office

The end of the semester and holidays are approaching, which also means it’s almost time for Ice Camps! For ten weekends beginning in January, youth groups come to these winter retreats to bond over great fun, worship, and biblical teaching. These weekends are an exciting way to help students grow closer to God and each other as they have fun and experience life-changing chapel sessions and activities.

Our returning summer staff members help make Ice Camps possible. Not only do they serve seasonally in the summers, but they view their roles as more than jobs by coming back repeatedly. They choose to serve completely voluntarily as they give up their time and gas money to spend weekends here during the winter season. The relationships they formed over summer camps with each other and the other staff are a large part of their desire to return, as well as their commitment to the ministry of Miracle Camp. Our staff, as well as the groups who come to Ice Camp, are immensely blessed by their presence.

These returners get to reconnect with their summer staff coworkers while making hot chocolate and running snow tubing in the woods. Other ways they serve are by crafting hot drinks in the coffee shop to warm up from the cold, constructing unique creations over conversation in the craft shack, and facilitating basketball, dodgeball, and volleyball in the gym. Their friendly faces provide a welcoming presence at the front desk and in the Trading Post. Not only do they get to laugh with the groups as they lead games and activities, but they have the opportunity to participate in the work God is doing in each student’s life.

While our summer camps focus on each camper’s personal relationship with Jesus, Ice Camps are a time for students to be a part of group discipleship. Our staff plays a key role in letting youth leaders relax, have fun with students, and grow in Christ together. We have opportunities for every returning summer staff member, whether it is indoors, outdoors, behind-the-scenes, or on the stage.

Every person has an opportunity to portray God’s love in a unique manner. He has gifted everyone differently for a purpose, and when those gifts are applied, God’s glory and kindness emanates through His creation. Those who seek to glorify Him through their talents and abilities as they serve not only demonstrate His light and love, but also receive joy that comes from participating in Kingdom work.

This is the epitome of volunteers at Miracle Camp and why we believe they are so valuable. From the paint on the walls to the flowers in the ground to the shingles on the roof, volunteers have played a part in nearly every aspect of our facility. This means that the kids who attend summer camp, guests that book a weekend, or families at our programmed events get to experience the end result of what was once a volunteer project.

Volunteers contribute largely to make Miracle Camp what it is today. Their astounding work is what allows us to operate at our highest potential. Volunteers fall in the same category as our maintenance and housekeeping staff in that they are the hands and feet of the unseen, hard work. The work they do is rewarding in a multitude of ways. Not only do our staff and guests benefit from their contributions, but volunteers themselves get to see the positive changes that happen because of them. Several times a year, volunteers come repeatedly because they enjoy the opportunity to serve. We have those who visit regularly to help with landscaping, maintenance, or any projects they can find. Also, many of our Summer Staff members come back to volunteer for Ice Camps, just for the sheer joy of participating in the mission of Miracle Camp.

Our volunteers remind us of Paul’s words in Scripture: “Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though He was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made Himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men” (2:4-7).

This mindset is what our volunteers assume as they exemplify Christ, sacrificing their time and energy to be a part of the big picture of what God is doing through Miracle Camp. They selflessly give and do what they do for others and to glorify God. Hundreds of guests are in and out of our campus every month. As volunteers use their gifts and abilities, their impact goes deeper than many realize.

Whether it is utilizing your green thumb in landscaping, operating your handywork skills, or applying your knowledge of computer networking, there are many practical ways you can get involved. As the Evergreen Project comes to a close over the coming winter months, the specific construction skills listed below are in high demand. Remember to click the link at the bottom of the list to sign up for our volunteer database, and stay tuned to your inbox for work crews organizing on weekends coming soon!

Concrete forming/Finishing

Drywall hanging/Finishing

Cabinetry/Countertop installation

Electrical

Plumbing

HVAC

Framing

Roofing

Finish carpentry

Painting

Landscaping

Spring cleaning

Leaves/Stick pickup

Pressure washing

Computer Networking/IT

Welding

Other applicable skills

If you are interested in volunteering with us, click the button below and fill out the form to sign up!

If a light bulb goes out, it’s not out for long. Does a sink need fixed? It’s repaired in no time. Our maintenance team ensures that Miracle Camp is operating at its possible best. When our facilities are running smoothly, no one notices the work it takes to make that happen. Our maintenance staff is intentionally unseen and unheard so that our place and the work God is doing through it can be highlighted.

Not only does this staff fix problems that arise, but they do the prep work to prevent any foreseeable complications. They work quickly and efficiently, and their contribution to the Miracle Camp staff is priceless. They are some of the hardest workers, and what they do on a daily basis is of equal importance to any other job here. Essentially, they are the army behind the scenes, making the wheels of Miracle Camp turn.

In addition to the tasks of maintenance work, they are large facilitators of growth. They discover ways to enhance the functions of camp. They ensure that the appearance of the campus be in top shape. Our maintenance team recognizes the gift that God has given us in our accommodations. They pour into projects, such as Evergreen, so that we can reach our full potential and strive to glorify God in every action.

Paul talks about the different kinds of work and gifts that the Holy Spirit gives in 1 Corinthians 12. Our maintenance staff exemplifies their gifts of hard work and serving, and the end result is seeing “the same God at work” in them just as much as our other staff. The maintenance men as a whole have been gifted with skills and keen abilities, but even amongst that team, each individual has specific qualities that allows them to work well. As they wholeheartedly do their jobs, they make it possible for guests to be fully present and in tune with what God is doing in their time at camp.

We are extremely grateful for each of these men and the work they do. Though challenging labor is often required, they dive in without complaint, all the while embodying Christ. God continues to use Miracle Camp, and we recognize that He does so through the work of our maintenance staff. We would especially like to thank Sam Short for his many years of service. Though he is retiring, his contributions to our team do not go unnoticed. It has been a blessing to have him on Miracle Camp staff, and he will be missed!

Serving in the area of maintenance is a great way to get involved with Miracle Camp. Stay tuned for more information next week on practical ways to use your God-given abilities!

Another weekend wraps up as the last guest drives out of camp. While the quietness settling in indicates a time of rest for many staff members, this is a signal that the work is only beginning for our housekeeping staff. With smiles and hearts of service, this team does so much more than clean. Though often unseen, they are just as valuable to the functioning of camp as the staff who are up front and on stage.

The cleaning itself is a tremendous task. Just this fall, hundreds of people stream in and out of campus, providing a constant flow of work. When it comes to the status of cleanliness, “good enough” does not cut it for Miracle Camp. We strive to ensure that our accommodations are more than presentable; comfort, cleanliness, and quality are important characteristics of our space. Our housekeeping team goes above and beyond as they do the job well, embodying the scripture, “work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men” (Colossians 3:23).

Due to the number of guests and continuously full weekends, the housekeeping staff prepares for many quick “flips” as we call them. Often, when guests leave, another group will come in later the same day or the following day. Our team works quickly and efficiently to ensure a smooth transition between guests, even though the job is thankless at times. They clean after groups, whether it be a teenage youth group or family reunion, removing any hint of mess. They transform the rooms like new, and the process repeats itself. More than the responsibility of cleaning bedrooms, they prepare all the meeting places and buildings to be welcoming and organized spaces.

The most important part of their work lies not in the vacuuming or laundry, however. For our housekeeping staff, it is not just about the cleaning. It is prayer. These members pray over the beds and meeting spaces because they recognize that this is a haven for people. Our facility is a dwelling place, and God’s spirit is in the midst of it. The staff finds it a joy and privilege to prepare a place for God to meet people. When guests come to camp and find it clean and well-kept, they can concentrate on their time with God without distractions. Our housekeeping team is motivated by the perspective that they are making ready a space of rest and retreat so that others can enjoy it, especially as they step away from everyday life to be regenerated, renewed, replenished, and refreshed.

“We don’t mind the messes left behind,” they say with a smile, “as long as the people leave in better condition than when they came.”

We are so grateful to have such hardworking and thoughtful housekeeping staff members here at Miracle Camp. Especially on Sundays, after worshiping they come to work with a ready demeanor to prepare the camp before Monday. They make Miracle Camp function physically, and their prayers are changing the lives of everyone who encounters this space.

Stay tuned for more information in the next few weeks for partnership opportunities as we strive to maintain and upgrade our facilities so that guests can focus on Jesus during their time here!

The cable wobbles as you steady yourself, clinging for dear life to the rope hanging above you. “It didn’t look as high up from the ground,” you think to yourself as you try to not look down. Your friends at the end loudly cheer you on, breaking fear’s paralyzing hold as you inch along the obstacle. One…more…step…and you breathe a sigh of relief when your feet reach the edge of the platform. Exhilarated, you move on to the next obstacle, pushing your fear to the side once again.

Fear. It’s a universal human trait. Regardless of different walks of life, skills, abilities, etc., fear of some sort plays a part in each person’s life. The theme of fear is woven all throughout Scripture, with “do not fear” occurring as one of the most common exhortations found in the Bible.

At Miracle Camp, our Activities ministry is purposefully designed to help guests face and overcome their fear. There’s no better way to work out our salvation “with fear and trembling” than in high pressure situations such as crossing high rope obstacles 40 feet in the air. The great amount of trust required to take that initial step off the zipline parallels the bigger picture of letting go of the fear that holds us back from trusting God.

For some, the adventure activities are a thrill or simply an enjoyable interest. They cross the obstacles with ease and a healthy fear as they glide off the zipline tower. What allows them to do this is the knowledge that they are safe and secure with proper instructions and equipment. For others, these challenges can seem like insurmountable endeavors. A first-time zipliner may stand at the top, more consumed by fear the longer he or she hesitates, sometimes talking themselves out of the adventure. “If only they knew how much fun it is!” or “if they just step off, they will realize how safe they are!” others plead as they encourage the nervous one.

How often are we this same way about trusting God in life situations? Sometimes we are the person at the top of the zipline, questioning God, “are you sure this next step is safe? Can I trust that You will catch me?” Instead of living in fear of life circumstances, what would it look like to only have a fear of the Lord? Maybe God is calling you to a new place or career. Maybe He is asking you to have courage to live fully right where He has you. Maybe He wants you to forgive that person or let go of whatever it is you’re holding to so tightly. Proverbs 1:7 says that “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge…” When we replace our earthly fear with a reverent fear of God, we begin stepping out in trust, implementing the lessons learned at camp into daily life.

The well-known Bible verse, Proverbs 3:5, declares, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.” Just as a person cannot half-heartedly decide to zipline or cross a rope obstacle, trusting God requires our full heart as we plunge into following Him. There is such reward seeing a guest’s face turn to joy after completing the challenge in which they were so afraid. And we will find an immense reward waiting for us, too, when we choose to trust God.

Whether it’s high ropes and zipline adventures, or rock wall and our team-building initiatives, here at Miracle Camp we love creating experiences for guests to face their fears and trust God in a deeper way before heading home, and then to hopefully carry this out in every aspect of life.

For more information about Miracle Camp and the activities we offer, click the button below!

The leaves pop with bright oranges and yellows, signaling autumn’s arrival. While the beauty is evident, we know it means the cold season is fast approaching. The next few months provide the perfect opportunity to not merely endure the time spent indoors, but to enjoy it. Settle in for a movie or game night with hot cider, curl up with a blanket and good book, or get out the speaker and add some new rhythms to your day. If you are looking for some ways to prepare for the upcoming season, here are some favorite suggestions from our staff and interns of ways to make the most of time spent inside! We hope you find these ideas helpful, encouraging, and fun.

Books

Gospel Fluency – Jeff Vanderstelt

Mere Christianity – C. S. Lewis

Wuthering Heights – Emily Bronte

Count of Monte Cristo – Alexandre Dumas

Garden City – John Mark Comer

Screwtape Letters – C. S. Lewis

Desiring God – John Piper

When I Don’t Desire God – John Piper

Life Together – Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Acts: A Visual Guide by Kevin DeYoung and Chris Ranson

With – Skye Jethani

Celebration of Discipline – Richard J. Foster

Little House on the Prairie – Laura Ingalls Wilder

Harry Potter – J. K. Rowling

Instruments in the Redeemer’s Hands – Paul David Tripp

Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series – easy to read Bible commentaries that show how Christ is exalted in every chapter and verse of Scripture

Movies

“The Story of God” documentary series with Morgan Freeman

The Lord of the Rings trilogy

“Hacksaw Ridge”

“Courageous”

“Saving Private Ryan”

“A Christmas Story”

“Princess Bride”

“Pride and Prejudice”

“Amazing Grace”

Harry Potter series

“Pink Panther”

Music

Artists

Elevation Worship

Matt Boswell

Steve Taylor

Larry Norman

The Lowly Heirs

John Denver

Chris Renzema

John Tibbs

Cory Asbury

Ben Rector

Taylor Swift

TobyMac

John Williams

Albums

Living Hope – Phil Wickham

Followers – Tenth Avenue North

Vice Verses – Switchfoot

Gold – Britt Nicole

Fortunate Fall – Audrey Assad

Books For Kids

The Chronicles of Narnia (series) – C. S. Lewis

Dear Mr. Henshaw – Beverly Cleary and Paul O. Zelinsky

The Mysterious Benedict Society (series) – Trenton Lee Stewart

God’s Very Good Idea – Trillia Newbell

Little Dog Lost – Rene Guillot

The Bronze Bow – Elizabeth George Spear

The Berenstain Bears – Stan & Jan Berenstain

My Side of the Mountain – Jean Craighead George

Any book by Mo Willems or Jon Klassen

Movies For Kids

“Ratatouille”

“VeggieTales: It’s a Meaningful Life”

“Ferdinand”

“Peter Pan”

“Robin Hood”

Music For Kids

Sing the Bible – Randall Goodgame

Seeds Family Worship albums

Bullfrogs and Butterflies: God is my friend

Hide ‘Em in Your Heart – Steve Green

In the Kitchen – This season is the perfect time to try out new recipes! Here are a few cookbook recommendations:

“You have events in the winter?” “What do you do when you don’t have summer camp?” “What kind of groups do you serve/host?”

These are great questions that we frequently receive! A lot happens here at Miracle Camp, and we want you to be in the know. As observed from our name, we are a camp and retreat center. But what do we actually do?

Who is Miracle Camp for?
Everyone. All year long, we host different events for specific age groups and demographics. We create programmed events designed for youth, women, men, married couples, families, mothers and daughters, fathers and sons, pastors, and more. Some new additions we will feature in the coming year are our Mother/Son and Father/Daughter retreats, as well as a retreat geared toward Young Adults. Additionally, we offer our space to guest groups who want to hold a retreat of their own.

What are guest groups?
Glad you asked. Guest groups include people from churches to family reunions to colleges and a variety of other groups. Miracle Camp aims to provide a retreat atmosphere so guest groups can enjoy nature, a comfortable space to meet, good food, and fun activities. Want to book Miracle Camp for your next retreat? Call or send us an email, or click the button below for more information!

What activities are offered in the colder months?
Though the waterfront activities are not in use during the cold season, the fun doesn’t stop. In fact, one of our busiest seasons is winter, due to our youth Ice Camps from January to March. The beautiful Michigan winter is the opportune time for our outdoor activities such as snowshoeing, winter tubing, snow field games, broomball, etc. Warm up with a hot drink from the coffee shop or join a group of friends playing board games. Our craft shack, gymnasium, game room, and camp store are available year-round as well.

Why does Miracle Camp exist?
Miracle Camp aims to facilitate life change by helping people grow closer to God. We desire to glorify God in everything we do, from planning events to running activities to preparing food. Ensuring that we provide a biblical focus with excellent hospitality is a top priority. God has given us this space for a purpose, and we want to share it with you.

For more information about Miracle Camp, our mission, or events we offer, click the button below!

A lot is happening with the Evergreen Project, and we are excited to share an update!

Most recently, concrete floors have been poured. They are now completed in the interior gathering area between the bunkhouses as well as the front and side porch entries.

We are thrilled to have a volunteer group from Morton church next week that will begin working on the building’s exterior siding and overhang. One of our goals is to get the eave-spouts and downspouts installed soon to prevent all the rain running off the roof from washing out the hills that lead down to Bankson Lake.

The next phase of this project is to install the underground plumbing so the concrete floors can be completed and stud walls erected for the bunk rooms and bathrooms. This will also allow us to install all the exterior doors and close up the building before the cold weather gets here. We will then be able to continue the work on the HVAC and electrical installations throughout the winter.

Stay tuned in the coming months to see the progress! To find out more about the Evergreen Project, click the button below!

Our new Miracle Camp gear is in and we are so excited to share it with you!

Check out our new T-shirt design in two different colors with the coordinates of camp. Get ready for the fall and winter with our brand new hoodie. Represent Miracle Camp through an assortment of our new bags, stuffed animals, water bottles, and more. Get your game on in style with our dodgeball shirts in both blue and yellow!

Moms and daughters, are you looking for a time to get away together to laugh, play, and grow spiritually? Join us September 21st – 23rd for our Mother Daughter retreat. This event is for any mom with daughters in grade school (K-6).

Whether it is enjoying games or gathering around the fire by the lake, we hope this fall weekend provides you with the perfect space and activities to allow you and your daughters to connect and encourage each other. Dive in to God’s Word with our speaker for the weekend, Kayla Crist. Praise and worship will be led by Jennie Wellsand.

Browse the camp store filled with new merchandise. Enjoy a delightful treat from the coffee shop. Take a walk surrounded by the colors and smells of fall. Adventure over to the zipline, archery, or mini golf. Check out the craft shack and let your creative side run free.

This year we are featuring a couple different crafts. Get in the fall spirit with our wooden pumpkin creation. Different sizes of wood slices are available for this festive decoration. Additionally, tic-tac-toe rocks are a fun creation for a portable game, party favor, etc. Explore camp with your daughter in search of rocks of your choice and personalize them along with a cute burlap bag and tag.

We are so excited for what God has in store for this weekend with you and your daughter as you grow closer to Him and each other.